Catch Up or Clean Up: Which Bookkeeping Service Does Your Practice Need?

Not all bookkeeping problems are the same — and the right solution depends on your situation. Here’s how to tell which service fits your practice best:

🕒 Catch-Up Bookkeeping

This service is for practice owners who are behind on their books. Maybe you haven’t entered transactions in months, your bank accounts haven’t been reconciled, or reports haven’t been prepared for your CPA.

Catch-up bookkeeping brings your financials up to date so you have a complete, accurate picture of your practice’s financial health.

Examples:

• Transactions from the past 6 months still need to be recorded

• Bank or credit card accounts haven’t been reconciled

• Payroll or owner draws haven’t been properly tracked

• No financial reports have been generated for management or tax purposes

🧾 Clean-Up Bookkeeping

This service is for practice owners whose books are current, but messy or inaccurate. If you notice duplicate accounts, income categories that don’t make sense, or reports that just don’t look right — you probably need a clean-up.

Clean-up bookkeeping fixes the errors, reorganizes your chart of accounts, and ensures your numbers actually reflect the reality of your practice.

Examples:

• Duplicate categories like “Supplies,” “Clinical Supplies,” and “Dental Materials” used inconsistently

• All revenue lumped into one “Sales” account instead of separated by hygiene, exams, or procedures

• Unreconciled accounts or balances that don’t match your bank statements

• A chart of accounts full of outdated or unused categories

💡 When You Need Both

Most of the time, practice owners need both — a catch-up and a clean-up.

If you’re behind and disorganized, the books need to be caught up first, then cleaned up. That way, your reports are both current and accurate moving forward — giving you clarity and confidence to make smart business decisions.

📞 Not Sure Where You Stand?

We can help. Schedule a call today and we’ll review your books together to see exactly what your practice needs to get back on track.